Key Ashes players struggle for state teams
Australia’s collective form ahead of the all-important Ashes series against England has been far from impressive, and there has been little joy as key Test team members headed back to domestic cricket in the Sheffield Shield either.
Test skipper Ricky Ponting’s rare appearance for Tasmania, in their Sheffield Shield match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tasmania-c854’s first innings at Bellerive Oval.
Nor have Nathan Hauritz’s credentials as Australia’s No. 1 Test spinner been assisted by his figures for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 as they take on Victoria at the SCG, where on a rain-abridged first day, he was hit for 57 from nine overs without claiming a wicket.
While Australia selectors seem unlikely to make any radical departure from the tried and tested Test line-up at least for the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane, beginning on November 25th, Hauritz’s bad day at the office would surely have given Test hopeful Steven Smith reason to hope.
While the young leg-spinner’s best chances of taking his place in Australia’s Ashes team perhaps hinge on selectors opting for two spinners in the Adelaide or Sydney Tests, he has the chance to audition for a baggy green as part of the Australia A side that take on England in Hobart from the 17th to the 20th November.
Also looking to push their cases for Test selection in that match will be Australia A captain Cameron White and batsmen Callum Ferguson and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 – any of whom could conceivably be called upon to bolster Australia’s stuttering Test middle order should Michael Hussey’s run drought continue, or Marcus North’s all or nothing batting delivers more of the latter a couple of Tests into the series.
Ferguson will have two bites at the cherry to prove he’s up to the task of facing England in the battle for the coveted urn, with the 25-year-old also among the South Australia squad to face an England XI in a tour match at the Adelaide Oval from November 11th to 13th.
Meanwhile, Hussey (whose brother David is unbeaten on 102 for Victoria in their match against NSW) will gain another chance to find some runs when he returns to the Western Australia team, along with Australia Test pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson, for their Sheffield Shield match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Victoria-c859, beginning on November 17th.
Hussey’s last outing for the Warriors, against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844 in a Sheffield Shield match during October, saw the out-of-form batsman dismissed for a golden duck and three, and after a run of poor Test form the 35-year-old has one last chance to find some runs before the Ashes begin.
Australia’s squad for the first Ashes Test is due to be announced on Monday, before both the Australia A match against England and Hussey’s next appearance for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Western-Australia-c865, at a public event on Sydney Harbour.
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